ROCKFORD — A man charged in connection with the deadly Oct. 1, 2011, robbery at Marie’s Pizza is renewing his request for a new lawyer.

The accused, Brandon L. Sago, 23, was among four men shot when Frank Pobjecky, an off-duty Winnebago County sheriff’s deputy, foiled the robbery of the Charles Street pizzeria during a brutal struggle. Sago’s 16-year-old cousin Michael Sago Jr. was killed.

This is the second time Sago has discussed getting a new lawyer with Judge Gary Pumilia. A first attempt to hire a private attorney failed but not until his expected July trial was delayed. Online court records erroneously said Sago had been scheduled for trial this week, but the trial never was rescheduled, Public Defender Nick Zimmerman said.

In court documents, Zimmerman argues that Sago was not responsible for his cousin’s death. Sago and the others had abandoned any hope of robbing the restaurant and were fleeing when they were shot, the documents say.

Despite Zimmerman’s efforts to have the case dismissed, it has marched toward a trial. Now Sago is asking for a new lawyer.

Sago was scheduled in July to be tried alongside Lamar O. Coates Jr., 24, who was the only armed assailant in the group. Coates was convicted on charges of felony murder, mob action, attempted armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Although a jury found that Pobjecky had shot and killed Michael Sago Jr., it decided that Coates had set in motion a chain of events that led to Sago’s death and therefore was responsible for his killing.

Coates was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Sago and a fourth suspect, Desmond Bellmon, face identical charges.

Pumilia has ordered Sago to appear next week for a hearing on his request for a new lawyer.